American Idol and Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular Closing

This week Laughing Place and Orlando Attractions Magazine reported that American Idol was closing at the end of the year. In the case of the latter, a statement was posted between the Walt Disney World Company, FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment:

“After more than five successful years, The American Idol Experience will be coming to a close at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in January 2015. Our partnership with FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment has been a great addition to the park and we are very appreciative of the amazing cast and guests who have devoted their time and talent to make this experience special and memorable. We are incredibly proud of the more than 2,000 Dream Tickets that have given guests a chance to live their very own Cinderella story and audition for ‘American Idol’. This past season alone, three of the Top 13 contestants were originally discovered through The American Idol Experience and we expect the attraction to continue providing top contestants for ‘American Idol’ XIV in the coming year.”

The American Idol Experience. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

My sources also suggest that Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is also slated to close at the end of the year. All of this is happening to make way for the major Star Wars additions coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It will surround that end of the Echo Lake corner of the park, and supposedly extend further out as well, though in what direction(s) is uncertain. What is coming in remains to be formally announced, as the attraction is also being tied to a very anticipated follow-up series starting in 2015.

The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! Photo by J. Jeff Kober.

What continued presence Indiana Jones will have in the park (other than The Great Movie Ride) is yet to be certain. I should also state that the cast has been informed on past occasions that the show was coming to an end. So anything can happen. In fact, it was never intended to last more than a handful of years. And yet it has remained. Still, if this show is important to you, then make plans to visit before the end of the year.

Please please do not close Indiana Jones stunt show! It is one of the most popular attractions at the studios! We have been going to the stunt show for 20+ years and live it everytime. My 22 year old has his 3rd birthday party there he idolizes Indiana Jones! We have been on the insude and ourside of Disney. Please there already is Star Tours. What is the harm in keeping the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular? If its not broken dont fix it! Please we saved the Aladdin show at DCA …i want to be able to take my grandkids to the stunt show! Please !!! Save Indiana

The IJESS has been rumored to close for 10 years but, even though the franchise has been essentially dormant, just about every time I’ve been to the theater the place is full or nearly full. Disney knows it would be foolish to close an attraction that garners (and sustains) that much interest. That said, they would be smart to update the show or at least periodically stage an updated version.

The Star Wars saga is actively continuing and while the ride has been updated and enhanced, that whole area should be expanded. There is plenty of space at the Studios to accomplish that.

Hopefully, they’ll find a way to keep Indy prominent at DHS (aside from the Raiders of the Last Ark scene in The Great Movie Ride).

Maybe they could build a clone of Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure ride in place of the stunt show. That way, it could be not just a Star Wars land, but a Lucasfilm land, covering both of that company’s major franchises (Star Wars and Indiana Jones).

They should have closed “Indiana Jones” ten years ago. That show was dated and played back in 1999. They should have torn it down way back then and put in a real ride based on the franchise. Too late now. The only reason that show is still draws a crowd is because the rest of the shows at the Studios are wretched. Universal has Harry Potter land. WDW would be be very wise to create a Star Wars land, especially since Episode VII is coming. WDW is under-utilizing the Star Wars franchise that they now own. “Star Tours” is another dated attraction. A 3-D Simulator straight from the 1980s.

Disney already made my husband angry by closing Maelstrom, and now Indiana Jones is closing too?!?! Disney, this is the WORST decision ever!!! That show is still so popular!!!! Please do not do this!!!!! FOR STAR WARS?!?! Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?! Star Wars is older than Indiana Jones! You already have plenty of Star Wars stuff at HS. Do NOT close Indiana Jones! Don’t do it!!

The New York Streets at THS are being struck to make room for the Mos Eisley Spaceport continuing the landscape created when Endor Vendors was updated to Tattooine Traders. Indiana Jones Stunt show is NOT being closed due to the announcement of anothe Indiana Jones film. The backlot tour is now closed with new announcements forthcoming.

The new Indiana Jones film should prolong the life of the DHS attraction. Now, let’s hope they update the show to reflect some of the newer ideas from the movie.

The Star Wars “makeover” was not extreme, it centered on updating the video/graphics to HD level. That said, the franchise itself has been fairly active through out the years, certainly more so than Indiana Jones, and so deserves a greater amount of space in the park. The updating/refurbishing of the Jones attraction and the expansion of the Star Wars area both make good business sense.

Indiana Jones is not going anywhere. The stunt show has closed but they did a indy/star wars stunt show with Lucas in the audience before it closed. They are going to open something better with Star Wars and Indiana jones, Lucas will not allow Disney to take one and not the other.